Doc and assistants suffer burns as man sets hospital room on fire

GEORGE TOWN: A man caused a stir at a private hospital here when he torched a doctor’s room this afternoon. In the 4.30pm incident, the man was said to have entered the room with petrol before pouring the fuel and setting it on fire. The doctor and two of his assistants, who were in the room at the time, suffered burns on their body. Jalan Perak Fire and Rescue Station chief, Ismail Mohd Zain a team rushed to the scene after receiving a distress call at about 4.55pm.

In the 4.30pm incident, the man was said to have entered the room with petrol before pouring the fuel and setting it on fire. Pic by NSTP/MIKAIL ONG

“We arrived about 10 minutes (after receiving the call), and by then, the fire had already been put out by an automatic fire extinguisher installed inside the room. “The doctor and two assistants suffered burns on their faces and body but not serious,” he said.

Ismail said the man who set fire to the room also sustained burns on both hands and has been sent to the Penang Hospital for treatment. “We were told that the man was involved in a scuffle with the doctor.